A warm weekend is ahead of us, inviting us to take a trip. Look for the sun and fresh spring air in Vipava. Here are a few suggestions for you for a trip in Vipava.
You can choose from many hiking trails and natural and cultural sites. Every visitor will definitely find a suitable place here to recharge their soul and body with fresh energy.
We hereby present the sights in Vipava that you can visit while avoid crowds and enclosed spaces.
Springs of the Vipava River
Did you know how the town of Vipava got its name? Of course, it got its name after the Vipava River, which is a major natural attraction here, as a source of such a shape cannot be found anywhere else in Europe. The karst water comes to the surface from large cracks and crevices at the junction between the impermeable flysch and the carbonate rocks that make up Nanos. Did you know that the Vipava River has as many as seven groups of permanent springs? Yes, and all of them are located right in the town of Vipava. Have you visited them already?
The two main springs of the Vipava River - Podfarovž and Podskala, are only a few steps away from the Central Square. The central springs are also the springs behind the Tabor tower, in Podlipca, in Jama and in Sleženec.
Egyptian sarcophagi
There are two Egyptian sarcophagi from red granite in the tomb of the Hrovatin – Lavrin family, which were brought to Vipava by Anton Lavrin. The sarcophagi hold the remains of his parents and his son. Hieroglyphs have been preserved on one of the sarcophagi.
You can see the sarcophagi in the Vipava cemetery, which stands by the main road in the town.
Old Castle
Its picturesque ruins stand on a steep slope just above the town of Vipava. The castle, which was most probably built in the 12th century, is first mentioned in sources in 1154. It was owned by the Patriarch of Aquileia. As a provincial princely fief, it often changed masters. After 1577 it was owned by the Lanthieri family; it was abandoned probably in the 17th century and began to fall into disrepair. The castle is a 20-minute walk away from the centre of Vipava. When you visit Vipava, the Old Castle is one of the sights that are worth seeing, with a beautiful view of Vipava and the surroundings opening up from the top of the hill.
The Central Square in Vipava can be your starting point for a trip to the castle. The marked path begins to climb past the houses and takes to the end of the asphalted road. There we turn right onto the footpath, which first leads us along the fence, and then turns left into the forest. After a short climb through the forest, we head towards the castle, which can be seen in front of us and is only a few more minutes away.
The Cross of Theodosius
In 1994, the Cross of Theodosius was erected over the village of Vrhpolje in memory of the events from 1,600 years ago, when a battle between the Roman emperors Theodosius and Eugenius is said to have taken place nearby. The cross has the shape of the letter T as the first letter of Emperor Theodosius's name. It stands on the eponymous rock, on which the emperor is said to have prayed before the decisive battle. The three-metre cross has the year 394 engraved on the intersection and the inscription Theodosius on the pillar. It was created based on the idea of the local art teacher Lucijan Lavrenčič, and it was carved from marble by the stonemason Vojko Možina. (Kobal, A., 2008)
The Cross of Theodosius stands near the Theodosius Inn and the Theodosius Forest Village.
The Bela Gorge
The Bela Stream shows its torrential character during heavy rains. Not so long ago, its water power was used to run sawmills and mills. For the Vipava Valley, the Bela Stream has created an unusual, deep gorge, which widens near the village of Sanabor, and then narrows down into a wild slot canyon with waterfalls and pools. The wildest part of the Bela Gorge begins in the immediate vicinity of the Church of St. Daniel in the village of Sanabor. The gorge features many rapids, pools, smoothly polished walls and very narrow troughs in some areas. An interesting feature is the pools, some of them very deep, between which the water drops in waterfalls that are up to three meters high. The pools are popular bathing spots in the summer months, attracting many locals and other visitors. The warm and clear pool water and the dense shade of the trees offer pleasant refreshment for the bathers in the summer heat.
One of the access points to the Bela Gorge is located just one kilometre from the Cross of Theodosius. On the right side of the road you will soon see a sign reading Plezališče (Climbing area) and Soteska Bela (Bela Gorge). Descend to the gorge on the narrow path through the forest.
Goče is a very densely built, charming settlement - a true monument to the Slovenian cultural heritage. The streets of Goče, or "gase", as they are called by the locals, are something special, as they are very narrow. An interesting feature is the floor plan of the village, which you can see if you climb the hill above the village, where a church dedicated to Saint Mary Major stands. The village is built in the shape of St. Andrew's cross. Did you know that as many as 75 vaulted wine cellars are hiding in Goče?!
The village of Goče is only 8 km away from Vipava (10 minutes by car). Park your car at the beginning of the village and take a stroll through the narrow streets. The village is an excellent starting point for visiting the church on the Obelunc Hill, which is only a 25-minute walk away.
s
Between Hamlets and Wells is the name of a traditional hike at the beginning of spring through the hamlets of the Erzelj area. The hike runs past many natural water springs and cultural sites. The village has as many as five hamlets. The locals have developed the path well and marked it with the image of a dragonfly, because as many as thirty species of dragonflies live in Erzelj and its surroundings. The path leads past many natural springs whose water is considered to be healing. The traditional hike starts in front of the school in Erzelj. There you can also find a map if you want to go on your own. There is the Church of St. Michael in the village of Erzelj, from where there is a beautiful view of the Vipava Valley.
The Med Divje educational trail
Did you know that there is an educational trail in the village of Slap? The Med Divje educational trail is 300 metres long. You will not only walk along the path, but you will also get to know many edible wild plant species and habitats. There is true biodiversity of plants there, as more than 60 species have been identified along the path. You will upgrade your knowledge on the three educational boards featuring plant descriptions.
The educational trail takes you along the old footpath from the village square called Plac to the Dragonc Creek or vice versa, i.e. from the Pregeljc Wine Cellar to Majerija or vice versa.
The village and its surroundings are the first to be greeted by the coastal climate, coastal architecture and wine-growing areas with noble wine in the cellars, if you travel to us from the interior of Slovenia. Podnanos is a clustered settlement with narrow streets in the old part of the village, which gives it a Mediterranean appearance. Much cultural heritage worth seeing has been preserved in it. The old name of the village, Št. Vid, has been preserved in the local form: Šembid. The original Church of Vitus was probably built in the 13th century at the latest, while the current one is from the 17th century. The bell tower is one of the most beautiful examples of the Aquileian-type bell tower in Slovenia, and its Renaissance façade is also a remarkable decoration.
Plaz or the summit of Plaz is a 528-metre high peak above the Vipava Valley. More precisely, between Vipava and Gradišče. There is a magnificent view of the Vipava Valley from the top, where you can find a registration box and a small bench nearby.
The Ture Camp is an excellent starting point to Plaz. The route is well marked with markings and signs. We walk along the path through the forest, and it takes 40 minutes to reach the top.
If you have only warmed up while climbing to Plaz, we propose you walk further to the top of Škavnica. Škavnica is a 734-metre high peak above Vipava. There is a beautiful view of the Vipava Valley and the peaks above it from the top, on which there is a small cross and a bench. The peak is surrounded by rock formations on which we will see many karst features. There is a wooden pavilion near the summit, called the Theodosious Bivouac.
The Nanos Plateau is an independent mountain range with many natural sights. There are many wonderful views from the slopes of Nanos. When weather is favourable, you can observe the wonders of Slovenia; the Kamnik Alps, the Triglav mountain range, Snežnik, the Trnovski Gozd plateau, Friuli, and all the way to the Gulf of Trieste, Karst... The beauty of Nanos enchants visitors at every moment, as they can creatively spend their free time in all seasons. Take a look at numerous sights on the slopes of Nanos. Nanos offers many options for strolling, climbing to peaks and cycling, and is also a true paradise for paragliders.
One of the circular paths to Nanos. From Vipava, we head towards the village of Podnanos. We continue our journey through the village along the old road through Rebrnice. When we start to climb, a brown sign directs us to the left towards the Nanos Plateau. We cycle past the Nanos Eco Lodge and Podraška House in the direction of the Abram Agritourism Farm. We can also make a turn to the Vojko Lodge. We cycle over Ravnik and start descending towards the village of Sanabor, where there is the Church of St. Daniel, and well preserved remains from the First World War on the hill. The path takes us back to the valley. The above-mentioned Bela torrent is on the left side, while the Cross of Theodosius stands above the village of Vrhpolje. We continue towards Vipava through the wine-growing village of Vrhpolje.
Church of St. Nicholas under Nanos
The Church of St. Nicholas stands under the slopes of Podraška Tura, near the more well-known Gradiška Tura. There is a beautiful view of the cliffs of the mentioned two peaks and the Vipava Valley.
The church stood there perhaps as early as in the Middle Ages. It is a late Gothic church in its core. The year 1608, once carved on the portal, hinted at rebuilding in the early 17th century. It was consecrated in 1699 by the Bishop of Trieste, Giovanni Miller. It was left in ruins after the Second World War. After renovation, it was consecrated in 1993. The concrete pointed arch portal is an imitation of the former, late Gothic one. There is a two-eyed bell gable above the façade. The building is covered with slate sheets. The late-baroque pillar-type marble high altar of St. Nicholas has been reconstructed. A new table was installed and new columns of the Doric order were inserted instead of the original composite ones to support the original cornice wall with volutes and angel statues. There was a painting of the patron saint, painted on wood in 1826 by Anton Irtitsch, in the altar niche. Today it is substituted by a painting of St. Nicholas, which was painted in 1993 by Tomaž Perko, who used the facial features of actor Boris Kralj for the saint's portrait.
You can go to the church from Gradišče pri Vipavi along an easy marked path. It will take you only some 35 minutes of walking. From Podnanos, the trip takes slightly more than an hour.
These are just a few of the possible trips and sights in Vipava.
For more information, contact us on the telephone number 00386 (0)51 215 226 or e-mail address tic.vipava@siol.net. In the attachment you will also find a map of Vipava and its surroundings, which will help you explore our area.
